Author's note: Wowweee this is a long one. Fun to write too, at least towards the end. *hint hint* And yes I am well aware of the whole Major Knight confirmed bachelor thing. I have played this game like four times (male and female). But it's my story damn it! A girls gotta loosen her bullets somehow, ya know?
After all of the Legionaries were out of site, Gekko turned around to survey the area. She knew well of the Legion through her travels, but this was her first time ever meeting them face to face.
She looked up at all of the crucified people. Some were quietly moaning in agony, others completely still and silent. Regardless of what alleged deeds or crimes these people committed, none of them seemed to be severe enough to warrant such a heinous punishment like being tortured to death. She pulled out her 9mm and one by one, walked up to each cross and put a bullet in their heads. These people were too far gone to save, and that was the only comfort she could possible give them. A quick death. She came up to the last person. A man wearing an NCRCF outfit. He opened his eyes and looked into hers. It was like she could hear his voice inside her, thanking her for her kindness. Gekko closed her eyes and grimaced as she pulled the trigger, blood spattering as his body went limp.
Darkness was drawing in around her. She checked her pip-boy. 9:30 PM and nobody was nearby. She went inside one of the small houses. At least she could stay here tonight. Unfortunately this meant setting back her plans to find Checkered Suit by a couple of days at the least. She knew that with every passing minute he was getting further and further away from her. But she had to go and report this back to the NCR outpost.
She made herself a dinner of squirrel on a stick, banana yucca, and some Sunset Sarsaparilla she found inside the fridge. She remembered that she still had the two frag mines she disarmed in Primm and set them down near the entrance to the small house. At least those and ED-E should help keep her safe in case anything came by to visit while she slept. Inside one of the wardrobes in the bedroom she dug out a pair of black cloth shorts and an oversized faded gray men's sweatshirt. She climbed into the large bed and quickly drifted off into a deep sleep.
Light shining in through the grimy windows played at Gekko's eyelids. Slowly her eyes fluttered open and adjusted to the brightness. She lifted up her pip-boy. 7 AM. She sat up in the bed and stretched. Despite the grim circumstances, it was the first comfortable nights sleep she had had in a long while. She took a quick shower, changed back into her leather armor, and packed away her new sleepwear into her backpack. Inside the main room she took up her frag mines and sat down to a quick breakfast of stale Fancy Lad Snack Cakes. She scavenged the house for anything else useable. She found a faded pair of woman's jeans, with a hole in the left knee, and a black tank top among other useful things like clean water, stims, and caps. Inside another house she found a nice fitting pink zip up sweatshirt, more caps, ammo, stimpacks and a few bottles of vodka.
A house flanked with sandbags at the door piqued her interest. She made her way across the dirt path to it and cracked open the door.
"Jesus Christ!" She shouted, greeted by a large metal crate housing three bark scorpions clawing to get out at her. ED-E whizzed past, firing his lasers at the scorpions. Since it seemed the scorps were not getting out of the cage, she decided to just let ED-E take pot shots at them while she explored the rest of the house.
As she stepped towards the hallway, she heard that familiar and dreaded click and fast beeping as her foot landed on something.
"DAMN IT!" She cursed as she dove into the hallway to avoid the blast. Her body landed on some hard metallic disc obscured by papers, and she heard another click. To her horror the cage opened and two remaining bark scorpions were bearing down on her. No time to get up, she pulled out her pistol and rolled onto her back. She began firing madly into the scorpions. One of them swiped it's stinger at her, and she managed to scoot out of the way just in time. ED-E fired two well placed laser blasts into the scorpions tail and it fell dead. Gekko got off the ground just as ED-E finished off the last scorpion.
In the doorway to the kitchen lay a dead Legionary, a large bullet hole through his head. Just inside, a rigged shotgun hung on the wall. The gun looked to be in pretty bad condition, but the shells inside of it could be of some use down the road. She tried to loot the room, but the fridge and every single cabinet was locked. She had a screw driver and some bobby pins on her, but she really sucked at lock picking.
"Eh, what the hell." She mumbled to her self as she set to work picking open the fridge. After several minutes of cursing and one snapped bobby pin, she jimmied the lock open. Inside the fridge was a rather impressive alcohol stash. She helped herself to a couple of bottles and moved on. Some boxed food was stored in a few other cabinets.
The bedroom had several locked containers full of ammo, as well as a shotgun in rather good condition, which she took with her. There was also a safe full of caps and pre-war paper money. As she made her way towards the entrance, she spied a safe tucked behind the toilet in the bathroom.
As she entered the bathroom, her foot landed on yet another frag mine. She managed to get out and duck around the corner before it went off.
"Son of a bitching frag mines…" She grumbled as she crouched in front of the safe. She dug out her lock picking set one more time and worked at the lock for several minutes before it finally clicked open.
Inside was a grenade rifle, several grenades, and some note about vital essence.
She returned the contents back into the safe and closed it. "As useful as you are, I am not lugging you across the Mojave, at least not yet." She made a note to herself about the grenade launcher in her pip-boy.
Doubtful that there were any survivors, she still decided to do a quick check of the town hall, see if there was anything of use.
Inside of the large entranceway lay a few dead bodies, judging by the dress, they were townspeople. She noticed that some of them had the aforementioned raffle tickets still clutched in their hands. None of the bodies had any sort of caps, weapon or ammo at all. Legion must have made sure of that. A long desk was situated to the right of the entrance. On top of it lay an old, very worn key. There was a small, almost illegible tag attacked to it. She was able to make out the word 'basement'. On the other side of the desk she spotted a frag mine. Wonderful. But at least now she knew to look out for more.
A low growl from somewhere in the halls caught her attention. ED-E indicated three hostile targets. She pulled out her sidearm and proceeded towards the hallway. Three large mongrels came charging down the stairs at her. She quickly took out two of them as ED-E disposed of the third. Fucking Legion must have left them here as a surprise for whomever came looking for the civilians, or loot.
Down in the basement was a very nice stash of ammo, including more magnum rounds. There was also some guns. She decided to leave those alone due to limited carrying space. She also found some stims, Med-X, and chems.
The rest of the town hall held a few more mongrels, which were easy enough to dispose of, several frag mines, and not much else. Until she came to the mayor's office. His computer terminal was still operational. The pass code for it was rather weak, so she was easily able to hack it. There she found some of the Mayor's journal entries. Of particular interest where the ones where he describes a man from the Legion calling himself Mr. Fox, making an offer with the town to trap Powder Gangers in exchange for good favor with the Legion. Just reading about it made her stomach sick. After scavenging a few more useful things, including a copy of the Big Book of Science, one of her favorite series, she left the building to head back for the Mojave Outpost.
On her way out of town, she spied the Nipton General Store. Figuring it may have some more useful loot in it, she stepped inside.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" An alarmed voice rang out in the darkness. Gekko turned on her pip-boy light. A lone man sat in a chair near the stores cash register.
"First I get my legs smashed, and then in walks the Powder Gangers' grim fucking reaper. What the fuck have you got against us, man? Jesus fucking Christ, if you want me dead just give me 15 Med-X and I'll fucking O.D. for ya, ok? Fuck!"
Gekko blinked a few times, "Uh… ok… who the fuck are you and how and I the Powder Gangers' 'Grim Fucking Reaper'?"
"You're the one who fucking single handedly wiped a bunch of us out in Primm, as well as some of our other camps. Can't fucking mistake you with that crazy fucking hair of yours. You're looking at the second place winner of the Nipton Lottery. Prize was I got to live, but they beat my fucking legs with hammers. I'm fucking crippled, get it?"
Gekko's face cringed at the sound of that. "I think I have some Med-X I can spare you."
"Then you're a fucking dream come true ain't ya? How much you gonna give me?"
Gekko took off her backpack and rummaged around in it. "I have three of them right here you can have. I don't really use the stuff much."
"That's it huh? Well it is still better then nothing." He said begrudgingly as he took the Med-X from her.
"I gave you some Med-X, now you tell me about this lottery."
He complied. "It ain't like we came to Nipton to play it! Me and my crew had it worked out to kidnap some NCR troopers who come to town to get laid. Had it all worked out with the scumbag mayor. We were gonna ransom them off, keep their weapons for ourselves, a nice score. We get in position and next thing we know, we're surrounded by those fucking Legion freaks. They drag us and everybody else into the center of town. And that asshole with the dog on his head, he starts talking about how we're bad people! He gave all of us a fucking lottery ticket. First up was 'Lucky Losers". They got decapitated. Then came the crucifixions. Goddamn but those went on and on and on. Third place got enslaved. I got the fuck beat out of my legs, and the winner they let go free."
"I see…" Gekko scratched at her stitched up bullet wound, taking it all in. "So did they do anything special with the mayor?"
"Him? When his ticket came up, they burned him alive on a pile of tires."
"Guess the asshole got what was coming to him then." She shrugged. She bid the Powder Ganger farewell and headed off for the Outpost.
The two statues of NCR rangers were a welcoming sight after a day of travel in the hot Nevada sun. The journey back was uneventful. She decided to skip resting at the patrol station and just trucked on through straight to the Outpost.
"So you're back." Ranger Ghost greeted her from her post on top of the barracks.
"You guys have got some serious shit going down." Gekko approached her. "Legion took out Nipton. Killed everyone."
"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Ranger Ghost rubbed at her forehead with her hand. "They have come this far West? Fuck! Now I am even more on edge then ever." She heaved out a deep sigh and beckoned Gekko over. She pulled a handful of caps out of her pocket and gave them to Gekko. "Thanks for hoofing it there and back for me. Go and buy yourself something to eat downstairs." Ghost turned away and looked back towards the road.
Brahmin steak for me tonight! She thought to herself as she made her way into the barracks bar. After placing her order, she glanced around the dimly lit room for a place to sit.
"Hey! Didn't think I'd be seeing you back here any time soon!" A familiar voice greeted her from behind.
Gekko turned to find Cass sitting in her usual spot at the bar. A drunk soldier sat comfortably next to her. Empty whiskey bottles surrounded the both of them.
"I see you've already got some company this evening." She nodded towards the handsome young trooper.
"Yeah, something like that." Cass smiled at her.
Gekko spied Major Knight sitting alone, reading, at a table in the corner. "Maybe I'll go find myself some company too."
Cass wished her good luck and turned back to her soldier companion.
"Hey! Mind if I join you?"
Knight looked up from his gun magazine. "Oh, you're that courier. Sure take a seat." He set aside his magazine, happy for some company.
"You can call me Gekko." She sat down in the chair across from him.
"Gekko huh? That's… a pretty unusual name."
"I'm a pretty unusual person." She winked at him. "So, do you have a name, or should I just call you Major Knight?"
"Andrew, but you can call me Andy. Now I am interested, what makes you such an unusual person?" He leaned back and crossed his arms.
"Most people can guess from my hair that I am not your typical girl." She laughed.
"Nah, I actually think it kind of suits you."
"Really? But you just met me." She giggled.
"I can still have my opinions about you."
"I guess that's true. So long as they are good opinions."
"Well, if you're a good person, then I have good opinions."
"And what makes a good person to you?" She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and cradling her cheeks in the palms of her hand. She looked into his eyes intensely.
By this point he was finding her wit captivating. And she was damn good looking to boot. The bar tender came over with her Brahmin steak and set it down on the table.
"Mind if I buy you a drink?" He asked her.
"I would love a drink, thanks." She gave him an appreciative smile. "Can I have a banana yucca juice with lemon and vodka?" She asked the bartender. Knight ordered a whiskey and Nuka. The Bartender left to get their drinks.
"Vodka drinker?" He asked her.
"Usually. I just find it suits me best. I also do beer and sweet wines from time to time. I like how vodka will mix with almost anything when you are looking to get drunk quick."
Knight laughed. "Yeah I know what you mean. Most soldiers just want to get drunk off duty and forget about the war. As much as the brass hates it, they allow it. So long as you are fit to serve out your patrol on the next day. So, I really am interested. Tell me more about yourself. I am curious about what makes you so 'unusual'."
She laughed and smiled at him. "I am really not that strange. I grew up in Oregon. Left home to find my own life. Worked for several years doing jobs like caravan guarding and Brahmin ranch guard. Most recently I am a Mojave Express courier. To put it simple, I like to travel a lot and shoot things. You're average wastelander."
The bar tender returned and set down their drinks
"Oregon huh? From our Northern territories around Klamath?" He took a sip of his whiskey and Nuka.
"No, further North then that. Ever heard of New Salem?"
"Yeah. Richest city on the West Coast next to Shady Sands and New Vegas. A lot of people in the NCR call it the 'Gateway to the North'."
"And they aren't kidding. North of New Salem it is so thick with xenophobic tribes. Old world cities like Portland and Seattle were the biggest targets in the region, and got nuked to shit. So in a way Old Salem was mostly spared. The mountains are really savage up there too. If you don't know how to survive in the mountains, you're a goner."
"You seem really able to handle yourself for someone from a rich city."
"Ok, I didn't really grow up in New Salem. But my family descends from some of it's founders. But I did live there for a little while. I actually grew up out in the mountains East of the city. I am built to be a survivor. Surviving a bullet to the head is testament to that."
"You were shot in the head?" He nearly choked on his drink.
She pointed at the healing stitches on her left temple. "Do you listen to Mr. New Vegas? I am the Goodsprings package courier he has talked about."
"No shit! That's you?" His eyes widened in shock.
A couple of hours later, their small table was covered with empty glasses.
"So then I find out that the whole time I was out here busting ass and risking my life for her, and everyone else's sake, she was back home fucking around like I didn't even exist." Major Knight leaned back in his chair, arms folded, shaking his head.
"Damn that sucks..." She idly ran her finger around the rim of her near empty glass, listening intently to his story.
"You have no idea! You know, I am not sure which is worse. The fact that she wrote me about the whole thing, instead of telling it to my face. Or the fact that she expected me to forgive her for getting knocked up by some other guy. And suggest just getting rid of the pregnancy and pretending like it never happened. Just who in the hell does she think I am anyways?" He threw his arms in the air in exasperation.
No, both of those sound really shitty to me. Trust me Andy." She thrust a finger towards him. "Women can be bitches like that. I mean… well I don't have any examples for you, but they can be reeeallly bitches, errrr um bitchy." She giggled.
"I think you have had enough to drink." He chuckled.
"I think you have had enough as well mister! You may look fine just sitting there, but I bet the moment you try to stand, you are going to be flat on your ass."
"Nah I am fine. Don't forget I'm a soldier. We can hold our liquor pretty damn good." He pounded down the last of his drink.
"Last call for the bar." The bar tender startled them both as she approached their table and started to collect empty glasses. 'We are closing down in 15 minutes."
"Holy shit 1 AM already?" Knight looked over at Gekko. "I am good to cash out if you're done."
Gekko nodded to him. "Thanks Lacey." He said as he counted out the caps for their drinks.
"You…you sure you don't want me to help with the bill?" She asked as he handed Lacey the caps.
"Nope, I've got more then enough to cover it. Besides, you were nice enough to keep me company and listen to me bitch about my ex-fiancée."
Gekko finished her drink. "Hey, no sense in both of us just sitting all by our damn selves. And you're pretty good company. I've been spending too much time on my own lately, so it has been nice having someone to… talk to." She reached out and touched the back of this left hand.
Major Knight rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Hey, if it's not too forward of me to ask, mind taking this someplace else. I know of a good place that is a little more private."
"So long as it is no strings attached that you are looking for, then I would be more then happy to accompany you. I am not looking for any relationships right now." She gave him a seductive grin as she lightly rubbed the back of his hand.
"No, I am not looking for anything right now either. It is just well… you know…" He shifted in his chair.
"Hon, you don't have to explain it to me. Trust me, I get it."
"You know." He began with a nervous laugh. "I have never done anything like this before."
"What, you mean a one nighter with a hottie you met at the bar? And you call yourself a soldier?' She giggled.
"Well yeah. I spent the past several years being a good faithful man to my ex, only to find out she was slutting all over the Mojave. I guess you could say I am finally feeling a little… gah… what is the word I am thinking of?"
"Rebellious?"
"That one works."
"Well I am glad I get to break your one-night-stand cherry then." She teased. She stood up, wobbly at first and bent down to pick up her backpack.
"Geez don't say it like that." He blushed as he stood up with her. "Here let me get that for you." He took her backpack from her and effortlessly slung it over his shoulder.
"Shall we?" She reached out and took his hand. They walked past Cass, who was getting awfully cozy with her young soldier companion. Gekko gave her a smile and wink and they headed for the exit. Cass returned with a smile and a thumbs-up.
Knight led her around the perimeter of the Outpost, keeping in the shadows. "Technically this is a no-no when you are on active duty." He quietly explained. "But as long as you don't get caught, then everyone pretty much turns a blind eye to it." They made their way over towards where old cars and trucks were piled against the steep mountainside. They giggled as he pulled her towards the back of an old truck, after nearly getting seen by the sniper on duty. He knocked softly on the door, and no sound came from within.
"Good, it is not in use." He said as he pulled the door open.
Inside was an old mattress on the floor of the truck. Empty liquor bottles and cigarette butts littered the floor. They were barely fully inside the truck as they began fervently kissing and groping each other.
"Shit" Knight stopped abruptly. "I don't have a… umm…."
Gekko cut him off. "Not a problem, I am always prepared." She opened up one of the several pockets on her backpack and pulled out a small, square white package with 'Lucky Lad' in green letters labeled on it.
"Oh and can you do something about the robot? It is a little weird having it in here with us.."
She gently pushed ED-E out of the truck and set him on 'wait command' as she closed the doors.
After my husband beta read this for me, he called it "smutty". Seriously, it is not *that* smutty. Just very suggestive. He is such a pansy sometimes. BTW we just celebrated our third wedding anniversary on Tuesday June 28th.